Method for forming a substructure of a multilayered laminate

ABSTRACT

A method for forming a substructure or an electrical structure. To form the substructure, a sheet of conductive material having exposed first and second surfaces is provided. A hole is formed through the sheet of conductive material. A first layer of dielectric material is applied to the exposed first surface, after the forming the hole. No material was inserted into the hole before applying the first layer of dielectric material to the exposed first surface. To form the electrical structure, a multilayered laminate that includes a plurality of substructures is formed such that a dielectric layer insulatively separates each pair of successive substructures.

This application is a divisional of Ser. No. 09/557,802, filed on Apr. 25, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,407,341.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to conductive substructures of a multilayered laminate and associated methods of fabrication.

2. Related Art

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate conductive substructures that may appear in a conventional multilayered laminate. FIG. 1 illustrates a 0S2P substructure 10, FIG. 2 illustrates a 2S0P substructure 20, and FIG. 3 illustrates a 1S1P substructure 30. Definitionally, the substructures in this application are described by an adjective of the form nSmP, wherein n and m are non-negative integers, wherein S stands for “signal plane,” and wherein P stands for “power plane.” Thus, “0S2P” connotes 0 signal planes and 2 power planes (n=0, m=2), “2S0P” connotes 2 signal planes and 0 power planes (n=2, m=0), and “1S1P” connotes 1 signal plane and 1 power plane (n=1, m=1). A conventional multilayered laminate comprises stacked substructures which may include any or all of the 0S2P, 2S0P, and 1SLP substructures.

A power plane is characterized by its inclusion of a continuously conductive layer. For example, the 0S2P substructure 10 in FIG. 1 comprises a power plane 11 which includes a continuously conductive layer 12, and a power plane 13 which includes a continuously conductive layer 14. As another example, the 1S1P substructure 30 in FIG. 3 comprises a power plane 31 which includes a continuously conductive layer 32. Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a power plane may include one or more holes within the continuous conductive layer. The continuous conductive layer of a power plane may include copper.

A signal plane is characterized by its inclusion of a layer comprising conductive circuitry. For example, the 2S0P substructure 20 in FIG. 2 comprises a signal plane 21 which includes a conductive circuitry 22, and a signal plane 23 which includes a conductive circuitry 24. As another example, the 1S1P substructure 30 in FIG. 3 comprises a signal plane 33 which includes a conductive circuitry 34. The conductive circuitry of a signal plane may include copper.

A substructure may include a via through its thickness, such as a conductively plated via 27 in the 2S0P substructure 20 in FIG. 2.

In a substructure, a power plane cannot conductively contact another power plane, a power plane cannot conductively contact a signal plane, and a signal plane cannot conductively contact another signal plane. Thus, power planes and signal planes may be insulatively separated by a dielectric layer. As a first example, the 0S2P substructure 10 in FIG. 1 comprises a dielectric layer 15 that insulatively separates the power plane 11 from the power plane 13. As a second example, the 2S0P substructure 20 in FIG. 2 comprises a dielectric layer 25 that insulatively separates the signal plane 21 from the signal plane 23. As a third example, the 1S1P substructure 30 in FIG. 3 comprises a dielectric layer 35 that insulatively separates the power plane 31 from the signal plane 33.

Unfortunately, some or all of the preceding 0S2P, 2S0P, and 1S1P substructures prevent improved wiring density within the substructures, and thus within the overall multilayered laminate that includes the 0S2P, 2S0P, and 1S1P substructures. With the 2S0P substructure of FIG. 2, for example, the conductive circuitry 22 may be required to be oriented at about right angles to the conductive circuitry 24 in order to minimize cross-talk (i.e., noise) due to electromagnetic radiative coupling between the conductive circuitry 22 and the conductive circuitry 24; i.e., if x and y axes represent orthogonal directions within the signal planes 21 and 23, then the conductive circuitry 22 would be oriented in the x direction if the conductive circuitry 24 were oriented in the y direction, and vice versa. The aforementioned directional constraints on the conductive circuitry 22 and the conductive circuitry 24 translates into a constraint on wireability (i.e., a constraint on how high the wiring density can be within the signal planes 21 and 23).

Additionally, with less than optimum wiring density, the geometrical size of the overall multilayered laminate will have to be large enough to accommodate all of the wiring that is physically required for the intended application. The increased size is undesirable, because of at least two reasons. A first reason is that space is likely to be at a premium and a conservation of space is generally strived for in the electronic packaging industry. A second reason is that an increased size is more expensive because of increased material requirements and, more importantly, a requirement to drill longer through holes through the substructures and the overall multilayered laminate.

Moreover, if a highly pliable or flexible dielectric material is used in the substructures, then all three of the 0S2P, 2S0P, and 1S1P substructures will be required to have a thickness that is large enough for the substructures to have sufficient structural rigidity. Note that an organic dielectric material for use in a chip carrier may exemplify a highly pliable or flexible dielectric.

There is a need for conductive substructures for use in multilayered laminates such as chip carriers, wherein the conductive substructures improve wireability, reduce substructure and overall laminate thicknesses, and result in lower fabrication costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method for forming a 0S1P substructure, comprising:

providing a sheet of conductive material with an exposed first surface and an exposed second surface;

forming a hole through the sheet of conductive material; and

applying a layer of dielectric material to the exposed first surface after the step of forming a hole.

The present invention provides a method for forming a 0S3P substructure, comprising

providing a sheet of conductive material having an exposed first surface and an exposed second surface;

forming a hole through the sheet of conductive material;

applying a first layer of dielectric material to the first surface of the sheet of conductive material, after the step of forming a hole;

applying a second layer of dielectric material to the second surface of the sheet of conductive material, after the step of forming a hole;

applying a first layer of conductive material on the first layer of dielectric material; and

applying a second layer of conductive material on the second layer of dielectric material.

The present invention provides a method for forming a 2S1P substructure, comprising:

providing a sheet of conductive material having an exposed first surface and an exposed second surface;

forming a hole through the sheet of conductive material;

applying a first layer of dielectric material to the first surface of the sheet of conductive material, after the step of forming a hole;

forming a first signal plane on the first layer of dielectric material;

applying a second layer of dielectric material to the second surface of the sheet of conductive material, after the step of forming a hole; and

forming a second signal plane on the second layer of dielectric material.

The present invention provides an electrical structure, comprising: a multilayered laminate that includes a plurality of substructures, wherein a dielectric material of a dielectric layer insulatively separates each pair of successive substructures, and wherein a subset of the plurality of substructures is selected from the group consisting of a 0S1P substructure and a 0S3P substructure, the 0S1P substructure and a 2S1P substructure, the 0S3P substructure and the 2S1P substructure, the 0S1P substructure and the 0S3P substructure and the 2S1P substructure, and the 0S3P substructure.

The present invention provides a 0S3P substructure, comprising:

a sheet of conductive material having a hole therethrough;

a first layer of dielectric material on a first surface of the sheet of conductive material;

a second layer of dielectric material on a second surface of the sheet of conductive material;

a first layer of conductive material on the first layer of dielectric material, said first layer of conductive material having a hole therethrough; and

a second layer of conductive material on the second layer of dielectric material, said second layer of conductive material having a hole therethrough.

The present invention has the advantages of improving wireability, reducing substructure and overall laminate thicknesses, and resulting in lower fabrication costs. In particular, the power plane of the 2S1P substructure of the present invention serves as a shielding layer that eliminates the cross-talk that may occur with the 2S0P substructure of the related art. Thus the power plane of the 2S1P substructure improves wireability and conserves space. Additionally, the interior power plane of the 0S1P, 0S3P, 2S1P substructures of the present invention provides added structural rigidity that makes it possible to reduce the thickness of these substructures, especially if these substructures include a highly pliable or flexible dielectric material such as may characterize an organic dielectric material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a front cross sectional view of a 0S2P substructure, in accordance with the related art.

FIG. 2 depicts a front cross sectional view of a 2S0P substructure, in accordance with the related art.

FIG. 3 depicts a front cross sectional view of a 1S1P substructure, in accordance with the related art.

FIG. 4 depicts a front cross sectional view of a 0S1P substructure, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 depicts a front cross sectional view of a 0S3P substructure, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a front cross sectional view of a 2S1P substructure, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a multilayered laminate that includes 0S1P, 0S3P, and 2S1P substructures, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 depicts the multilayered laminate of FIG. 7 after being compressed.

FIG. 9 depicts the multilayered laminate of FIG. 8 after surface layers have been applied to the multilayered laminate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 illustrate conductive substructures in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a 0S1P substructure 40, FIG. 5 illustrates a 0S3P substructure 50, and FIG. 6 illustrates a 2S1P substructure 60. The 0S1P substructure 40, the 0S3P substructure 50, and the 2S1P substructure 60 are named in accordance with the nSmP notation described supra. Thus, “0S1P” connotes 0 signal planes and 1 power plane (n=0, m=1), “0S3P” connotes 0 signal planes and 3 power planes (n=0, m=3), and “2S1P” connotes 2 signal planes and 1 power plane (n=2, m=1). Multilayered laminates in accordance with the present invention include stacked substructures which may include any or all of the 0S1P, 0S3P, and 2S1P substructures.

In FIG. 4, the 0S1P substructure 40 comprises a power plane 41. The power plane 41 includes a continuously conductive layer 42 having a hole 43 and a hole 44. The continuously conductive layer 42 may include, inter alia, a pure metal (e.g., copper), a metallic alloy, or a layered sandwich (e.g., a copper-Invar-copper sandwich with a sublayer of Invar sandwiched between sublayers of copper). While the continuously conductive layer 42 includes the two holes 43 and 44, the continuously conductive layer 42 may include any number of holes or no hole.

The 0S1P substructure 40 of FIG. 4 may be generated in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention as follows. Initially, the continuously conductive layer 42 would be provided as a sheet of the conductive material. Then the holes 43 and 44 may be formed in the continuously conductive layer 42, such as by mechanical drilling, laser drilling, or photolithographically. An example of how photolithography may be used to form the holes 43 and 44 includes applying a layer of photoresist to a surface of the continuously conductive layer 42, patterning and selectively exposing the photoresist to radiation (e.g., ultraviolet radiation) such that the photoresist is exposed only where the holes 43 and 44 are to be formed, etching away the exposed photoresist and the conductive material underneath the exposed photoresist to form the holes 43 and 44, and stripping away the unexposed photoresist to fully expose the conductive material of the continuously conductive layer 42. Note that a roll of the conductive material may initially replace the sheet of the conductive material of the conductive layer 42 in the aforementioned process for forming the 0S1P substructure 40, such that a portion of the roll of the conductive material may be cut away to constitute the sheet of the conductive material, wherein the cutting away may take place either before or after the holes 43 and 44 have been formed. Also note that the power plane 41 comprises the continuously conductive layer 42 and further includes any holes (such as the holes 43 and 44) that exist or have been formed through the continuously conductive layer 42. The surfaces 46 and 47 of the power plane 41 may be each coated or otherwise treated with a surface layer of material such as zinc, chrome, or copper oxide to promote adhesion of layers (e.g., dielectric layers) that will be subsequently applied to the surfaces 46 and 47. Note that the holes 43 and 44 may be formed either before or after any subsequent application of a dielectric layer to the surfaces 46 or the surface 47. A structure resulting from applying the dielectric layer to the surfaces 46 is called a 0S1P substructure.

In FIG. 5, the 0S3P substructure 50 comprises an interior power plane 54, a surface power plane 51, a surface power plane 58, a dielectric layer 152 between the power planes 54 and 51, and a dielectric layer 153 between the power planes 54 and 58. The power plane 54 includes a continuously conductive layer 55 having a hole 56 and a hole 57, wherein the holes 56 and 57 each include dielectric material from the dielectric layers 152 and 153. While the continuously conductive layer 55 includes the two holes 56 and 57, the continuously conductive layer 55 may include any number of holes or no hole. The power plane 51 includes a continuously conductive layer 52 having a hole 53. While the continuously conductive layer 52 includes the hole 53, the continuously conductive layer 52 may include any number of holes or no hole. The power plane 58 includes a continuously conductive layer 59 having a hole 151. While the continuously conductive layer 59 includes the hole 151, the continuously conductive layer 59 may include any number of holes or no hole. The continuously conductive layers 52, 55, and 59 may each include, inter alia, a pure metal (e.g., copper), a metallic alloy, or a layered sandwich (e.g., a copper-Invar-copper sandwich with a sublayer of Invar sandwiched between sublayers of copper). The continuously conductive layers 52, 55, and 59 may each include the same conductive material or different conductive materials. The dielectric layers 152 and 153 each comprise a dielectric material such as, inter alia, a photoimageable dielectric (PID) material, a pure resin material, an epoxy material, and a glass-reinforced dielectric.

The 0S3P substructure 50 of FIG. 5 may be generated in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention as follows. Initially, the power plane 54 having the continuously conductive layer 55 (including the holes 56 and 57) is formed in the same manner as the power plane 41 of FIG. 4 is formed, as described supra. After the continuously conductive layer 54 is formed, the dielectric layers 152 and 153 are respectively applied to opposite surfaces 154 and 155, respectively, of the continuously conductive layer 54. Prior to the application of the dielectric layers 152 and 153, the opposite surfaces 154 and 155 may be each coated or otherwise treated with a surface layer of material such as zinc, chrome, or copper to promote adhesion of the dielectric layers 152 and 153 to the surfaces 154 and 155, respectively. The dielectric material of the dielectric layers 152 and 153 fills the holes 56 and 57 during the application of the dielectric layers 152 and 153. Then the power planes 51 and 58 may be formed by applying a sheet of a conductive material (in the form of a separate sheet or from a roll) on the dielectric layers 152 and 153. The holes 53 and 151 in the power planes 51 and 58, respectively, may be formed in the same manner (i.e., pholithographically with selective etching) as the holes 43 and 44 are formed in the power plane 41 as described supra in conjunction with FIG. 4. The holes 53 and 151 may be formed in the power planes 51 and 58, respectively, either before or after the planes 51 and 58 are applied to the dielectric layers 152 and 153, respectively. Note that the dielectric layers 152 and 153 may initially be in a form of complete sheets or alternatively may be cut from a roll of dielectric material before or after being applied to the power plane 54.

In FIG. 6, the 2S1P substructure 60 comprises an interior power plane 61, a signal plane 63, a signal plane 65, a dielectric layer 67 interfaced between the power plane 61 and the signal plane 63, and a dielectric layer 68 interfaced between the power plane 61 and the signal plane 65. The 2S1P substructure 60 also includes the plated via 69 and the plated via 161. The power plane 61 includes a continuously conductive layer 62 having a hole 164 and a hole 165, wherein the holes 164 and 165 each include dielectric material from the dielectric layers 67 and 68. While the continuously conductive layer 62 includes the two holes 164 and 165, the continuously conductive layer 62 may include any number of holes or no hole. The continuously conductive layer 62, and the signal layers 63 and 65, may each include, inter alia, a pure metal (e.g., copper), a metallic alloy, or a layered sandwich (e.g., a copper-Invar-copper sandwich with a sublayer of Invar sandwiched between sublayers of copper). The continuously conductive layer 62, and the signal layers 63 and 65, may each include the same conductive material or different conductive materials. The dielectric layers 67 and 68 each comprise a dielectric material such as, inter alia, a photoimageable dielectric (PID) material, a pure resin material, an epoxy material, and a glass-reinforced dielectric material. The 2S1P substructure 60 also includes the plated via 69 and the plated via 161. While the 2S1P substructure 60 includes the two plated vias 69 and via 161, the 2S1P substructure 60 may include any number of plated vias or no plated via. Additionally, 2S1P substructure 60 may include any number of unplated vias or no unplated via.

The 2S1P substructure 60 of FIG. 6 may be generated in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention as follows. Initially, the power plane 61 comprising the continuously conductive layer 62 (including the holes 164 and 165) is formed in the same manner as the power plane 41 of FIG. 4 is formed, as described supra. After the power plane 61 is formed, the dielectric layers 67 and 68 are applied to opposite surfaces 166 and 167, respectively, of the continuously conductive layer 62. Prior to the application of the dielectric layers 67 and 68, the opposite surfaces 166 and 167 may be each coated or otherwise treated with a surface layer of material such as zinc, chrome, or copper oxide to promote adhesion of the dielectric layers 67 and 68 to the surfaces 166 and 167, respectively. The dielectric material of the dielectric layers 67 and 68 fills the holes 164 and 165 during the application of the dielectric layers 67 and 68. Note that the dielectric layers 67 and 68 may initially be in a form of complete sheets or alternatively may be cut from a roll of dielectric material before or after being applied to the power plane 61. Next, sheets of conductive material, which may include a conductive metal such as copper, may be applied to the surfaces 162 and 163 of the dielectric layers 67 and 68, respectively. The signal planes 63 and 65 will be subsequently formed from said sheets of conductive material. Alternatively, the aforementioned sheets of conductive metal may be applied (e.g. coated) to the dielectric layers 67 and 68 (either in sheet or roll format) prior to applying the dielectric layers 67 and 68 to the surfaces 166 and 167, respectively. The aforementioned sheets of conductive metal may be circuitized to form the signal planes 63 and 65 by a subtractive process that comprises a photolithographic process followed by selective etching which removes conductive metal from the sheets of conductive metal where there is to be no circuitization.

An alternative method of forming the signal planes 63 and 65 is by an additive process that eliminates use of the aforementioned sheets of conductive metal. Instead, permanent or temporary photoresist layers are formed on the surfaces 162 and 163. The photoresist is patterned and photolithographically exposed to radiation (e.g., ultraviolet radiation). Then channels are formed in the photoresist layers by selective etching. The channels are filled, such as by being plated, with an electrically conductive material (e.g., copper) that forms circuitization of the signal planes 63 and 65. If the photoresist layers were intended to be temporary, then the remaining photoresist is removed by any method known to one of ordinary skill in the art such as by chemical etching. Regardless of the method of formation, the signal planes 63 and 65 may be formed simultaneously, in overlapping periods of time, or within distinct periods of time.

Plated vias 69 and 161 of the 2S1P substructure 60 may be formed by mechanical or laser drilling of holes through: the conductive material of the signal plane 63, the dielectric material of the dielectric layer 67, the dielectric material within the power plane 61, the dielectric material of the dielectric layer 68, and the signal plane 65, followed by plating the holes with a conductive material. Alternatively, the plated vias 69 and 161 could be formed by mechanical or laser drilling of the holes prior to forming the signal planes 63 and 65. An additional alternative is available if the dielectric material of the of the dielectric layers 67 and 68 includes a PID material. With the additional alternative, the plated vias 69 and 161 could be formed by patterned photoimaging and selective etching the PI) material prior to forming the signal planes 63 and 65.

The dielectric material within the 0S3P substructure 50 of FIG. 5 and within the 2S1P substructure 60 of FIG. 6, is initially provided as uncured. The dielectric material may be cured after being applied to within the 0S3P substructure 50 or to within the 2S1P substructure 60. The 2S1P substructure 60 of FIG. 6 may be cured, inter alia, by heating or by pressurizing followed by heating. Alternatively if the dielectric material includes PID material, then the dielectric material may be photocured (e.g., by use of ultraviolet radiation). For the 2S8 P substructure 60 of FIG. 6, the dielectric material is cured preferably before the plated vias 69 and 161 are formed.

FIG. 7 illustrates a multilayered laminate 70 that includes 0S1P, 0S3P, and 2S1P substructures, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. In particular, the multilayered laminate 70 includes the following sequentially stacked arrangement of substructures and dielectric layers: a 2S1P substructure 71, a dielectric layer 80, a 0S1P substructure 72, a dielectric layer 81, a 2S1P substructure 73, a dielectric layer 82, a 0S3P substructure 74, a dielectric layer 83, a 2S1P substructure 75, a dielectric layer 84, a 0S1P substructure 76, a dielectric layer 85, and a 2S1P substructure 77.

Although the aforementioned sequentially stacked substructures 71-77 and dielectric layers 80-85, will be subsequently subjected to compressive stresses, they have not yet been subject to said compressive stresses. Accordingly, the sequentially stacked substructures 71-77 and dielectric layers 80-85 have intervening void regions 90-99 as follows. The void region 90 intervenes between the 2S1P substructure 71 and the dielectric layer 80. The void region 91 intervenes between the dielectric layer 80 and the 0S1P substructure 72. The void region 92 intervenes between the 0S1P substructure 72 and the dielectric layer 81. The void region 93 intervenes between the dielectric layer 81 and the 2S1P substructure 73. The void region 94 intervenes between the 2S1P substructure 73 and the dielectric layer 82. The void region 95 intervenes between the dielectric layer 82 and the 0S3P substructure 74. The void region 96 intervenes between the 0S3P substructure 74 and the dielectric layer 83. The void region 97 intervenes between the dielectric layer 83 and the 2S1P substructure 75. The void region 98 intervenes between the 2S1P substructure 75 and the dielectric layer 84. The void region 99 intervenes between the dielectric layer 84 and the 0S1P substructure 76. The void region 100 intervenes between the 0S1P substructure 76 and the dielectric layer 85. The void region 101 intervenes between the dielectric layer 85 and the 2S1P substructure 77. Note that void space also exists in: a plated via 102 of the 2S1P substructure 71, holes 103 and 104 in the 0S1P substructure 72, a plated via 105 of the 2S1P substructure 73, a plated via 106 of the 2S1P substructure 75, holes 107 and 108 in the 0S1P substructure 76, and a plated via 109 of the 2S1P substructure 77.

The 0S1P substructures 72 and 76 of the multilayered laminate 70 in FIG. 7 have the same properties and features as were described supra in conjunction with FIG. 4 for the 0S1P substructure 40. The 0S3P substructure 74 of the multilayered laminate 70 in FIG. 7 has the same properties and features as were described supra in conjunction with FIG. 5 for the 0S3P substructure 50. The 2S1P substructures 71, 73,75, and 77 of the multilayered laminate 70 in FIG. 7 have the same properties and features as were described supra in conjunction with FIG. 6 for the 2S1P substructure 60.

The particular arrangement of 0S1P, 0S3P, and 2S1P substructures in FIG. 7 is merely illustrative of the numerous possible arrangements. Generally, a multilayered laminate of the present invention may include any number and arrangements of 0S1P, 0S3P, and 2S1P substructures. Any or all of 0S1P, 0S3P, and 2S1P substructures may be present in the multilayered laminate. A multilayered laminate that comprises a 0S1P substructure and a 0S3P substructure, with no internal signal layers, may be useful in a power distribution system or in a structure with all circuitization on the external, exposed surfaces of the multilayered laminate. Note that a multilayered laminate may additionally include conventional substructures such as the 0S2P substructure 10, the 2S0P substructure 20, and the 1S1P substructure 30, described supra in conjunction with FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, respectively.

FIG. 8 illustrates the multilayered laminate 70 of FIG. 7 after being compressed under an elevated temperature, such as by pressurization in a lamination press under a pressure preferably between about 100 psi and about 700 psi at a temperature preferably between about 180° C. and about 210° C. The compression and heating of the dielectric material of the dielectric layers 80-85 causes said dielectric material to flow. The heating of the dielectric material of the dielectric layers 80-85 cures said dielectric material. The compression of the multilayered laminate 70 eliminates the void regions 91-101 which were discussed supra in conjunction with FIG. 7. As a result of the compression, the dielectric material of the dielectric layers 80-85 fills out the prior void spaces between, and insulatively separates, each pair of successive substructures of the substructures 71-77 as follows. The dielectric material of the dielectric layer 80 fills the space between, and insulatively separates, the 2S1P substructure 71 and the 0S1P substructure 72. The dielectric material of the dielectric layer 81 fills the space between (and insulatively separates) the 0S1P substructure 72 and the 2S1P substructure 73. The dielectric material of the dielectric layer 82 fills the space between, and insulatively separates, the 2S1P substructure 73 and the 0S3P substructure 74. The dielectric material of the dielectric layer 83 fills the space between, and insulatively separates, the 0S3P substructure 74 and the 2S1P substructure 75. The dielectric material of the dielectric layer 84 fills the space between, and insulatively separates, the 2S1P substructure 75 and the 0S1P substructure 76. The dielectric material of the dielectric layer 85 fills the space between, and insulatively separates, the 0S1P substructure 76 and the 2S1P substructure 77.

From the aforementioned flow and cure of dielectric material, the dielectric material of the dielectric layers 80-85 fill out the space in the plated vias and power planes as follows. The plated via 102 of the 2S1P substructure 71 is filled with dielectric material from the dielectric layer 80. The holes 103 and 104 in the 0S1P substructure 72 are filled with dielectric material from the dielectric layers 80 and 81. The plated via 105 of the 2S1P substructure 73 is filled with dielectric material from the dielectric layers 81 and 82. The plated via 106 of the 2S1P substructure 75 is filled with dielectric material from the dielectric layers 83 and 84. The holes 107 and 108 in the 0S1P substructure 76 are filled with dielectric material from the dielectric layers 84 and 85. The plated via 109 of the 2S1P substructure 77 is filled with dielectric material from the dielectric layer 85.

After the multilayered laminate 70 has been compressed, a plated through hole (PTH) 140 may be formed through the multilayered laminate 70. The PTH 140 may be formed by any method known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as mechanical or laser drilling. Although FIG. 8 does not explicitly show the PTH 140 as being electrically (i.e., conductively) coupled to any of the substructures 71-77, the PTH 140 and the substructures 71-77 may be formed such that the PTH 140 conductively contacts some or all of the substructures 71-77. Thus the PTH 140 may be used to provide electrical coupling among or between some or all of the substructures 71-77. Additionally, the PTH 140 may be conductively coupled to electronic structures external to the multilayered laminate 70 (e.g., a chip) as will be discussed infra in conjunction with FIG. 9.

The surface layers 120 and 130, if present, may be applied to the multilayered laminate 70 as will be shown infra in conjunction with FIG. 9. The surface layer 120 includes a dielectric sheet 122, a microvia 124, a microvia 126, and a microvia 128, such that the microvias 124, 126, and 128 are within the dielectric sheet 122. The microvias 122, 124, and 126 each have a plated layer of conductive material (e.g., copper). The surface layer 130 includes a dielectric sheet 132, a microvia 134, a microvia 136, and a microvia 138, such that the microvias 134, 136, and 138 are within the dielectric sheet 132. The microvias 134, 136, and 138 each have a plated layer of conductive material (e.g., copper). The surface layers 120 and 130 may serve to effectuate electrically conductive coupling between the multilayered laminate 70 and external electronic structures. For example, the surface layer 120 may conductively couple a semiconductor chip to the multilayered laminate 70 by use of some or all of the microvias 124, 126, and 128, as discussed infra in conjunction with FIG. 9. As another example, the surface layer 130 may conductively couple a solder ball of a ball grid array (BGA) to the multilayered laminate 70 by use of some or all of the microvias 134, 136, and 138. The dielectric sheets 122 and 132 may include any dielectric material having structural and insulative properties that support said conductive coupling between the multilayered laminate 70 and the external electronic structures. The dielectric material within the dielectric sheets 122 and 132 preferably includes a resin comprising an allylated polyphenylene ether (APPE). A particularly useful APPE is an APPE resin coated on a copper foil, made by the Asahi Chemical Company of Japan and identified as Asahi product number PC5103. Alternatively, the dielectric material within the dielectric sheets 122 and 132 may include a photoimageable dielectric or a resin-coated copper foil. Although the surface layers 120 and 130 are each shown in FIG. 8 to include three microvias, the surface layers 120 and 130 may each include any number of microvias, or no microvia. The number of microvias included within the surface layer 120 may be unrelated to the number of microvias included within the surface layer 130. In addition to having microvias, the surface layers 120 and 130 may each include surface circuitization lines.

FIG. 9 illustrates FIG. 8 after the surface layers 120 and 130 have been applied to the multilayered laminate 70 by any method that is compatible with the particular dielectric material used in the dielectric sheet 122 and 132, respectively. For example, the surface layers 120 and 130, if including the allylated polyphenylene ether (APPE) that is initially coated on a copper foil such as the Asahi resin PC5103 (discussed supra), may be applied to the multilayered laminate 70 by pressurization in a range of about 1000 psi to about 2000 psi at an elevated temperature between about 180° C. and about 210° C. for a time of at least about 90 minutes. The pressurization and elevated temperatures causes the APPE resin to flow and become cured, resulting in application of the surface layers 120 and 130 to the multilayered laminate 70. After the pressurization, the copper foils may be left intact, or removed in any manner known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as by etching.

Although the preceding discussion described how the surface layers 120 and 130 may be applied to the multilayered laminate 70 after to the multilayered laminate 70 has been compressed as described supra in conjunction with FIG. 7, the surface layers 120 and 130 may To alternatively be applied to the multilayered laminate 70 prior to the compression of the multilayered laminate 70 as follows. The dielectric sheets 122 and 132 (without added metalization or circuitization) of the surface layers 120 and 130, respectively, are placed on the multilayered laminate 70. When the multilayered laminate 70 is subsequently compressed by use of a compressive force, the dielectric sheets 122 and 132 are subject to the compressive force and are thus caused to adhere to the multilayered laminate 70. After the compression, the microvias 124, 126, 128, 134, 136, and 138 (and associated plating) may be formed in the surface layers 120 and 130 as shown in FIG. 8 and discussed supra in the text that describes FIG. 8. Also after the compression, the plated through hole 140 may be formed as discussed supra in conjunction with FIG. 8. The plated through hole 140 thus formed would pass through the surface layer 120, the multilayered laminate 70, and the surface layer 130.

The microvias 124, 126, and 128 are formed in the surface layer 120 after the surface layer 120 has been applied to the multilayered laminate 70. Similarly, the microvias 134, 136, and 138 are formed in the surface layer 130 after the surface layer 130 has been applied to the multilayered laminate 70. The microvias 124, 126, and 128, as well as the microvias 134, 136, and 138, may be formed by any method known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as by laser drilling into the dielectric sheet 122 down to the conductive metalization on the signal layer 120 to form a microvia, followed by electroless plating of metal (e.g., copper) on seeded surfaces (e.g., palladium seeded surfaces) of the microvia to form an electroless layer of the metal. After the electroless plating, the metal (e.g., copper) is electroplated over the electroless layer to form the plated layer of each of microvias 124, 126, 128, 134, 136, and 138.

In FIG. 9, an electrical device 145 (e.g., a semiconductor chip) has been coupled to the multilayered laminate 70 by solder contact members 146, 147, and 148. The solder contact members 146, 147, and 148 are conductively coupled to the solder interfaces 185, 187, and 189 within the microvias 124, 126, and 128, respectively. The plated layers 125, 127, and 129 of the microvias 124, 126, and 128, respectively, are conductively coupled to the multilayered laminate 70 at the 2S1P substructure 71 and at the plated through hole 140. The solder contact members 146, 147, and 148 may each include, inter alia, a Controlled Collapse Chip Connection (C4) solder ball. If the surface layer 120 is not present, then the electrical device 145 may be conductively coupled directly to the multilayered laminate 70 at the 2S1P substructure 71 and at the plated through hole 140.

While preferred and particular embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention. 

We claim:
 1. A method for forming a substructure, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet of conductive material having an exposed first surface and an exposed second surface; forming a hole through the sheet of conductive material; applying a first layer of dielectric material to the exposed first surface of the sheet of conductive material, after the step of forming a hole, wherein no material has been inserted into the hole prior to said applying the first layer of dielectric material to the exposed first surface of the sheet of conductive material; applying a second layer of dielectric material to the exposed second surface of the sheet of conductive material, after the step of forming a hole; applying a first layer of conductive material on the first layer of dielectric material; and applying a second layer of conductive material on the second layer of dielectric material. forming a hole through the first layer of conductive material; and forming a hole through the second layer of conductive material, wherein during the step of applying the first layer of dielectric material to the exposed first surface of the sheet of conductive material, some of the dielectric material of the first layer of dielectric material is inserted into the hole, and wherein during the step of applying the second layer of dielectric material to the exposed second surface of the sheet of conductive material, some of the dielectric material of the second layer of dielectric material is inserted into the hole, such that the hole is filled with said some of the dielectric material of the first layer of dielectric material and said some of the dielectric material of the second layer of dielectric material.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming a hole through the first layer of conductive material precedes the step of applying a first layer of conductive material, and wherein the step of forming a hole through the second layer of conductive material precedes the step of applying a second layer of conductive material.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming a hole through the first layer of conductive material follows the step of applying a first layer of conductive material, and wherein the step of forming a hole through the second layer of conductive material follows the step of applying a second layer of conductive material.
 4. A method for forming a substructure, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet of conductive material having an exposed first surface and an exposed second surface; forming a hole through the sheet of conductive material; applying a first layer of dielectric material to the exposed first surface of the sheet of conductive material, after the step of forming a hole, wherein no material has been inserted into the hole prior to said applying the first layer of dielectric material to the exposed first surface of the sheet of conductive malarial; applying a second layer of dielectric material to the exposed second surface of the sheet of conductive material, after the step of forming a hole; forming a first signal plane on the first layer of dielectric material; and forming a second signal plane on the second layer of dielectric material, wherein during the step of applying the first layer of dielectric material to the exposed first surface of the sheet of conductive material, some of the dielectric material of the first layer of dielectric material is inserted into the hole, and wherein during the step of applying the second layer of dielectric material to the exposed second surface of the sheet of conductive material, some of the dielectric material of the second layer of dielectric material is inserted into the hole, such that the hole is filled with said some of the dielectric material of the first layer of dielectric material and said some of the dielectric material of the second layer of dielectric material.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of forming a first signal plane includes: forming a photoresist layer on the first layer of dielectric material; forming a channel in the photoresist layer; and filling the channel with a first conductive material to form a circuit line.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising removing remaining photoresist to leave the circuit line exposed.
 7. The method of claim 4, further comprising forming a plated via through the first layer of dielectric material, the sheet of conductive material, and the second layer of dielectric material.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plated via is formed prior to the forming of the first and second signal planes.
 9. The method of claim 4, wherein the steps of applying a first layer of dielectric material and forming a first signal plane are accomplished by: providing a multilayered material having a layer of conductive material on the first layer of dielectric material; applying the multilayered material on the first surface of the sheet of conductive material such that the first layer of dielectric material contacts the first surface of the sheet of conductive material; and circuitizing the layer of conductive material.
 10. The method of claim 4, wherein a dielectric material of the first layer of dielectric material is selected from the group consisting of a photoimageable dielectric (PID) material, a pure resin material, an epoxy material, and a glass-reinforced dielectric material.
 11. A method for forming an electrical structure, comprising: forming a multilayered laminate that includes a plurality of substructures, wherein a dielectric material of a dielectric layer insulatively separates each pair of successive substructures, and wherein a subset of the plurality of substructures is selected from the group consisting of (a 0S3P substructure and a 2S1P substructure) and (a 0S1P substructure and the 0S3P substructure and the 2S1P substructure).
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming a plated through hole through the multilayered laminate.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: forming a surface layer on the multilayered laminate, wherein the surface layer comprises a microvia, and wherein the surface layer is electrically coupled to the multilayered laminate at a plated layer on the microvia; and electrically coupling an electronic device to the plated layer on the microvia.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the surface layer includes an allylated polyphenylene ether (APPE).
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein forming the surface layer includes applying the APPE coated on a copper foil to the multilayered laminate by pressurization in a range of about 1000 psi to about 2000 psi at an elevated temperature between about 180° C. and about 210° C. for a time of at least about 90 minutes.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein forming the surface layer further includes removing the copper foil after applying the APPE coated on the copper foil to the multilayered laminate.
 17. The method or claim 11, wherein the plurality of substructures consists of the 0S3P substructure and the 2S1P substructure.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of substructures consists of the 0S1P substructure and the 0S3P substructure and the 2S1P substructure.
 19. The method of claim 11, wherein a via through a first substructure of the plurality of substructures is filled with the dielectric material from at least one dielectric layer in direct mechanical contact with the first substructure. 